Vehicle construction



Nov. 15, 1938. s, Q STAGEBERG v VQS VEHICLE 'CONSTRUCTION FI'ed Feb. 19, 1934' 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 s. o. STAGEBERG Nav. 15, 1938.

EHICLE CONSTRUCTION Filed'Feb. 19, 1934 ebel O. Sta

Nov. 15, 1938. y s. o. STAGBERG y H7386 VEHICLE -CONSTRUCTION I A Filed Feb. 19, 19344 .4 sheets-sheet. s

Nov. `15, 1938: l s. o. STAGEBERG i 2,137,186 y VEHICLE 'CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 19, 1954 4 sheets-sheet 4 Sterling O. tcngeberg Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES u PATENT QFFECE VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION Sterling 0. Stageberg, Red Wing, Minn., assigner to Sterling Engineers, Inc., Red Wing, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota,

Application February 19,1934, Serial No. 711,874

12 Claims. (Cl. 267-20) My invention relates to Vehicleconstruction and particularly tothe type of construction by means of which the vehicle chassisis resiliently supported with respect to the wheelsof the vehicle. Y

An object of the invention resides in'providing a Construction in which independent action of the front wheels may be procured.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a construction in which the wheel support is guided for up and down movement relative Vto the vehicle frame through means other than those upon which the spring of the vehicle acts.

' A feature of the invention resides in employing a guideA for guiding the wheel of the vehicle for vertical sliding movement.

Another object of the invention resides in providing an arm pivoted to the frame of the vehicle and engaging the wheel support and in further' providing a spring acting between said arm and the frame of the vehicle.

A feature of the invention resides `in providing the vehicle frame with a transverse frame member to which said arm is pivoted and against which the spring reacts. 1 Y

An object of the invention resides in providing a member pivotally connected to the end of said transverse frame member through a hinge having a substantially vertical axis and by means of which the steering wheels of the vehicle are steered.

A still further object of the invention resides in disposing the guide means between said hinged member and the wheel support. o

. An object of the invention resides inconstructing said guide with two spaced posts straddling said frame member and in further constructing the hinged member with bosses slidable along said posts.

Another object ofthe invention resides in connovel combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

- wheels of the vehicle are mounted and'illustratingA my invention applied thereto. 1

Fig. 2 is aV plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan sectional View taken on line 3*-3 of Fig. l and drawnto a larger scale. o

Fig. .4 is an elevational sectional View similar to Fig. 3 and taken on line 4-1 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. 5 is an elevational sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

- inasmuch as my invention relates principally to the supporting of the chassis of the vehicle upon the wheels thereof the body of the vehicleV proper has Ynot been shown and only a portion of the chassis has been illustrated. It can, however,

be readily comprehended that the construction Vand I3. These frame members are rkconnected together at Ythe forward end thereof through a transverse tubular frame member I4 which takes the place of the usual front axle employed with motor vehicles and extends outwardly beyond the K longitudinal frame members. This frame member has mounted at the ends thereof two steering wheels l5 and I6 which are identical in construction. For this reason only the wheel i6 and parts associated therewith will be described in detail.

"Ihe transverse frame member I4 is preferably rectangular in cross section, being of rather shallow depth at the center thereof and gradually increasing in depth towards the ends of the same. Thisrframe member consists of front and rear walls Il and I8, an upper Wall I9 and a lower wall 2li. The walls Il and i8 are substantially parallel throughout the major portion of the frame Vmember whereas the walls I9 and 20 diverge at the outer ends thereof to form flaring compartments 2l at'the ends of the same.

The wheel I6 of the vehicle consists of a rim 22 constructed in the usual manner with flanges 23 and 24 at the outer edges thereof and with a recessed portion 25 at the center of the same. -A tire 99 of ordinary construction is carried by said rim. The rim 22 has connected to it a disk 26 which is formed with an inwardly turned flange 21 lying along the portion 25 vof the rim and secured thereto. The disk 26 is adapted to be secured through a number of bolts 28 to a flange 29 formed on a hub 30. The bolts 28 are preferably of a detachable nature so that the Wheel can be detached from the hub for the purpose of changing tires whenever the occasion demands. As many bolts 28 may be employed as found necessary. The wheel I6 is formed with an outwardly flaring guard 3| which is welded, riveted or otherwise secured to the disk 26. Thisguard is constructed with a central opening adapted to be closed through a cap 32. ably held in position with respect to said guard through a number of fingers 33 frictionally engaging an inwardly turned flange 34 formed on said guard. When it is desired to remove the wheel the cap 32 is rst removed and access may be had to the various bolts 28.

The hub 30 carries two ball bearings 35 and 36, one race 31 of each of said ball bearings being mounted in the hub 30 and the other race 38 of each of said ball bearings being attached to a stub axle 39 forming a support for the wheel I6 and hereinafter referred to as the wheel support of the vehicle. The ball bearings 35 and 36 are preferably designed to resist combined end thrust and radial stresses and are held in position with respect to the hub and stub axle through a washer 4G mounted upon a reduced threaded end 4I of said stub axle through a nut 42 threaded thereon. An oil retainer 43 disposed between the hub 38 and stub axle 39 prevents leakage of oil or grease from the bearings at the inner end of the hub while a cap 44 mounted upon` the outer end of the hub 38 serves to prevent leakage of grease from the other end of the hub.k

The hub 38 has attached to it a brake drum 45 which is provided with a plate-like member 46 extending inwardly from the drum proper and secured to the iiange 29 of hub 38. Any desired brake mechanism of the internal expanding type may vbe employed in conjunction with the brake drum 45. Such construction not forming any particular feature of theY present invention has not been shown in the drawings, though'it can be readily comprehended that any of the standard types of brake means may be utilized.

The outer end of the stub axle 39 is provided with a flange 41 which is disposed in proximity to the plane of the outer edge of the brake drum 45. This flange has attached to it a disk 48 which extends past the edge of the drum 45 and serves to enclose the open end of said brake drum. The brake drum 45 and the disk 48 may be constructed with cooperating lips 49 and 56 by means of which the entry of dirt into the brake drum is greatly reduced.

The wheel supporting structure which includes the stub shaft 39 and the plate 48 attached to the flange 41 thereof carries a device for guiding the wheel I6 for substantial vertical movement relative to the transverse frame member I4. This structure includes two posts 5I and 52 which are secured at their ends in mountings 53 carried by the plate 48. These mountings are provided with bases 54 which rest upon and are attached to the plate 48 through welding, riveting or otherwise. These mountings further include bosses 55 which are constructed with bores 56 adapted to receive the ends of said posts 5I and 52. The posts are held in position within said bores through set screws 51 which are threaded into the bosses 55 and which pass through the ends of the said posts. By means of this construction the posts may be removed when desired for the puise of repair'or renewal.

Cap 32 may be remov- Slidably mounted on the posts 5I and 52 is a yoke 58 which embraces the end of the frame member I4. This yoke is lconstructed with tWo bosses 59 and 60 which are bored as indicated at 62 to receive the posts 5I and 52. By means of this construction the yoke is guided for substantially vertical movement relative to the wheel supporting structure previously referred to.

For the purpose of steering theV wheel I6 with respect to the frame of the vehicle a hinge connection is provided between the yoke 58 and the end of the frame member I4. This hinge construction utilizes two bearings 61 and 68 which take the place of the usual steering wheel spindles found on ordinary vehicles. These parts will now be described in detail. The yoke 58 is constructed at the upper and lower ends thereof with bosses 63 and 64 and the upper walls I 9 and 2D of the frame member I4 are similarly constructed with bosses 65 and 66. The bosses 65 are provided with sockets GSwhich are adapted to receive races 1I of ball bearings 61 and 68. The bosses 63 and 64 are internally threaded to receive plugs 12 and 13 which are provided with sockets 14 which receive the other races 15 of the said ball bearings. These plugs may be adjusted through the threads thereof to cause the races to properly engage the balls and to support the yoke 58 for swinging movement about a substantially vertical axis. The two ball bearings 61 and 68 form a hinge for the yoke 58 by means of which the wheel i 6 may be swung for the purpose of steering the vehicle.

To support the vehicle proper an arm 16 is provided which is disposed within the compartment 2l of the tubular framekmember I4. 'Ihis arm is constructed with a boss 11 at one end which is journaled on a bolt 18 extending through the two walls I1 and I8 of the transverse frame member I4. The walls I1 and I8 are provided with short bosses 'I3 through which the bolt 18 extends and a nut 8i screwed upon the end of the bolt holds the bolt assembled and retains the arm 16 in proper position for vertical swinging movement.

The arm 16 is jointed near` its other ends through a joint 82 which is constructed with a vertical axis arranged substantially in alignment with the axis of the 'two bearings 61 and 68. By means of this construction the arm 16 is divided intoa section 83 which is directly pivoted to the frame proper and another short section 84 which extends into the wheel I6. The joint 82 is constructed in the following manner: On the end of section 83 of arm 16 is formed a boss 80. A

fork 85 formed on the end of the arm section 84 straddles the. boss 86. A shaft 86 extends through the fork 85 and the boss 8U and forms the pintle of the joint. This shaft is preferably secured to the boss 88 through a pin 81. The extreme end of the arm section 84 is provided with a ball 88. This ball is seated in a cylindrical cavity 89 formed in a rubber block 9|. Said block is received-in a socket 92 formed in the end of the stub axle 39. The parts of the invention are so arranged that the center of the ball 88 lies substantially in the medial plane of the wheel I6.

Operating in conjunction with the section 83 of arm 16 is a compression coil spring 93 which is contained within a tubular housing 94 formed on the upper wall I9 of the frame member I4. This spring rests at its lower end upon a seat 95- formed on the section 83 of arm 1I. The housing 94 is open at its upper end and is threaded to receive av cap 96. This cap is; constructed with a socket91 which forms a. seat iorthe'other end of the .sp-ringg93. By vmeans, of the cap 96 the pressure of thek spring93 on the arm A"I6 mayA be varied so that when the vehicle is normally loaded the lbosses'ti!) vand 60 are midway between the mountings .53. l

Inorder toturn Vthe steering wheels l3the yokes 5 8 ,are constructed with lugs IUI Awhich arethreaded to receivearms |02 projecting outwardly therefrom. A tie rod |03 connects the two arms |02 together.V By means of .the usual steering post and steering wheel, which have not been illustrated, the wheels maybe turned regardless of their position relative to theframe member I4. 1 Y 'Ihe operation of thel invention is as `follows: Assuming the parts of the vehicle'to begin positions shown. in Figs. 1 and 4. VIf thetire 99 on wheel I6 engages an upwardly extending projection inthe road on which the vehicle is traveling, pressure isv applied to the underside of the Vtire 99 which tends to raise the wheel I6. This causes the Atwo posts 5I and 52 to slide upwardly along thebores 62 formed in the bosses 59 andv of yoke 58. Such sliding `motion is, however, resisted through the action ofthe arm 16 and the spring 93. Movement of the wheel I6 upwardly causes .the said spring to compress and the excess energy is momentarily stored in said spring and released after the wheel passes the obstruction. While this is occurring the upward pressureV of the wheel tends to raise the entire vehicle chassis through the spring 93 due to the fact that the arm .16 engages said spring and due to the fact that said spring further engages the frame proper. The seat 95 of the arm 16, however, serves as a fulcrum for the arm 1S andthe force exerted on the ball 88 of said arm also tends to swing said arm aboutsaid fulcrum which would havea tendency .to lower the frame member I4 through the .action of the arm Vupon the bolt 18. This tendency to both move the frame .upwardly and downwardly. would hence cause a certain part of the energy applied to the chassis through the upward movement of the wheel to be neutralized thereby greatly reducing the movement of the chassis proper. By arranging the axis of the joint in the arm 16 in alignment with the axis of the hinge serving as the wheel spindle the action of the device is the same regardless of the positions of the wheel brought about through the steering of the vehicle. Due to the fact that the connection between the arm 16 and the wheel support is in the medial plane of the-wheel no lateral stresses whatsoever are vapplied to the posts 5I and 52 and the bosses 59 and B0. 'I'hese parts hence slide freely and without appreciable wear. l l

With my invention independent action of the two steering wheels of a vehicle can be procured.

With my invention coil springs may be substituted in place of the conventional leaf springs used in vehicles. By placing the joint in the spring arm at the particular locality designated the action of the device is the same regardless of the position of the steering wheels. Due to the fact that the connection of the spring arm to the wheel mounting is situated in the medial plane of the wheel, no binding or lateral stresses occur in the guides. With my invention the spring arm and spring are wholly conned within the tubular frame member so that the same are fully protected from injury. My invention provides an extremely neat and attractive construction and said frame member.

equipped withfthe same. 1 Changes inthe specic form of my invention, `as herein disclosed, `may bev madeV withinv the scope'of what is claimed without departing from the' spirit oimy invention.

Having described my invention, what-I claim as new and Ldesireto protect by-Letters Patent is:

V,1. In combination with the frame and the support for the wheel of a Vehicle, Isaid' frame including atubular frame member extending transversely of the vehicle, an arm disposed. wholly within said tubular'frame member, meansv carried bysaid framemember forming` a horizontal pivot for said arm, and restrainingrsaid arm from `whichfenhances the Aapplrbarance of the vehicle swingingabouta Vertical axis,.a vertically disposedcoil spring acting between Said arm andv frame member and urging said arm downwardly, said arm engaging said wheel supportVand means Vconnected to said wheel support and to said frame member: and 'supporting said wheelfor up and .down movement relative to the frame. w 2. In combination with the frame and `the support `for the wheel of a Vehicle, saidy frame including a frame member having two spaced parallel walls, an arm pivoted to said walls and swngable therebetween in an up and down` direction, a spring attached to., said. frame member and movableb'etween said walls for urging. said arm downwardly, said arm being connected to said wheel support, andmeans connected to said wheel supDOrt and to said frame member and guiding saidy wheel for up .and down movement relative to the frame member.l

31 In combination with the frame and the support for a wheel of` afvehicle, two vertically extending spaced posts attached Vto said wheel support, a' yoke extending across said posts and having bosses slidable along thesame, a singleframe member forv connecting said yoke to said frame and'resilient means betweensaid wheel support v4. In combination withthe frame and the support for a-wheel of a vehicle, saidfframeincluding a transverse frame member extending Vup toward said wheel support, two verticaly extending posts attached to said wheel support and straddling said frame member, a yoke having bosses slidable along said posts, means for 'pivotally connecting said yoke to said transverse frame member, and resilient means acting between said wheel support and said transverse frame member.

5. In combination with the frame and the support for a wheel of a vehicle, said frame including a transverse frame member extending up toward said wheel support, two vertically extending posts attached to said wheel support and' straddling said fram'e member, a yoke having bosses slidable along said posts, means for pivotally connecting said yoke to said transverse frame member, an arm pivoted to said transverse frame member and connected to said wheel support .and a spring acting between said frame member and said arm.

6. In combination with a frame and support for a wheel of a vehicle, said support having a socket therein situated at the medial plane of the wheel, an arm pivoted to said frameV and having a part seated within said socket, means connected to said wheel support and to said frame andvguiding said wheel for up and down movement relative to the frame, and resilient means acting between said arm and frame.

7. In combination with the frame and the supportfor a Wheel of a vehicle, means connected to said wheel support and to said frame and guiding said wheel for up and down movement relative to the frame, said means including a steering wheel spindle, an arm pivoted to said frame and connected to said Wheel support, said arm being constructed with a joint therein having a hinge disposed with the axis thereof substantially in alignment with the axis of said steering wheel spindle.

8. In combination with the frame and the support for a wheel of a vehicle, a guide secured to said wheel support, a member movable along said guide for procuring up and down movement between said Wheel and frame, means providing a hinge having a substantially vertical axis for connecting said member to said frame, an arm pivoted to said frame through a pivot having a substantially horizontal axis, said arm being provided with a joint having a hinge constructed `with a substantially vertical axis in alignment with the axis of said member, the end of said arm being connected to said wheel support, and resilient means acting between said arm and said frame.

9.1m' combination with the frame and the support for a wheel of a vehicle, said frame comprising a transverse frame member extending up toward the wheel support, a member pivoted to said transverse frame member through a hinge having a substantially vertical axis, means connected to said member and to said wheel support for guiding said wheel for up and down movement relative to the transverse frame member, an arm pivoted to said transverse frame member and connected to said wheel support, said arm having a joint therein provided with a hinge having a substantially vertical axis in substantial alignment with the axis of the hinge of said member, andr-esilient means acting between said arm and said transverse frame member.

10. In combination with the frame and the support for a wheel of a vehicle, said frame comprising a transverse frame member extending up toward the wheel support, a member pivoted to said transverse frame member through a hinge having a substantially vertical axis, means connected to said member and to said wheel support for guiding said wheel for up and down movement relative to the transverse frame member, an arm pivoted to said transv-erse frame member and connected to said wheel support, said arm having a joint therein provided with a hinge having substantially vertical axis in substantial alignment with the axis of the hinge of said member, and resilient means acting between said arm and said transverse frame member, said arm being provided with a pivotal connection to said wheel support situated substantially in the medial plane of the Wheel. f

1l. In combination with the frame and the support for a Wheel of a vehicle, guide means between the wheel support and frame for guiding the same for relative movement with respect to one another and in a vertical direction, means providing a hinge having a substantially vertical axis for connecting said wheel support to said frame, an arm pivoted to said framev on one side of said guide means and being connected to said wheel support on the other side of said guide means, said arm. having a joint with a vertical axis disposed substantially in alignment with the axis of said hinge and resilient means acting between said arm and frame and disposed intermediate said pivot and the guide means.

12. In combination with the frame and the support for a wheel of a vehicle, guide means connected to said wheel support and frame and guiding said wheel support and frame for relative vertical movernent, an arm pivoted to said frame at one end and pivoted to said wheel support at its other end, said last named pivot being disposed substantially in the medial plane of the wheel, and resilient means acting between said arm and frame.

STERLING O. STAGEBERG. 

